Valve gear



Oct. 13, 1959 K. H. GROPP VALVE GEAR Filed Aug. 27, 1958 KH.GROPP INVENTOR. f 0. Medan BY 55" ATTORNEYS VALVE GEAR Karl H. Gropp, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 27, 1958, Serial No. 757,523

2 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates generally to the valve gear of an internal combustion engine and more particularly to a novel and simplified means of maintaining in place the end rocker arms upon the rocker arm shaft.

Prior to this invention, it has been the common practice of overhead valve engine manufacturers to extend the rocker arm shaft through the respective rocker arms, springs and supports, plug the rocker arm shaft ends to make them oil tight and hold the shaft and'end rockers in place with respect to each other with a spring washer sandwiched between a pair of flat washers. The washers were held in place upon the shaft by a cotter key. In the instant application the use of these multiple pieces has been eliminated by a new and novel spring and washer member. The spring and washer member is secured in place upon the rocker arm shaft by a split pin. This arrangement lends itself to mass production of a simple part which can be assembled upon the rocker shaft in a minimum of time with a minimum of effort.

The combined spring and washer member comprises a one piece spring steel stamping having a pair of diametrically opposed reverse bent edge sections which resiliently bear against the side faces of the end rocker arms. The member is centrally apertured for positioning upon the rocker shaft. Medially of the bent edge sections, the member is provided with U-shaped sections in which a split pin is nested for holding the member in place upon the shaft. In longitudinal cross section the member resembles a truncated cone having reverse bent edge sections at the bottom of the cone and a U-shaped formation at the top of the cone. Because of the formation of the reverse bent edge sections and the medially disposed U-shaped sections, the member as initially stamped out is elongated longitudinally, including the aperture. After final forming, the member is substantially circular in configuration. In longitudinal cross section, the truncated cone configuration is long and narrow in the free state and short and wide in the loaded assembled state. a

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a rocker arm and shaft construction embodying the applicants invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view partly in section of one end of the rocker arm and shaft construction shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a washer.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a rocker arm and shaft assembly is indicated generally at and comprises the usual rocker arm shaft 1 1 having a central bore 12 for the passage of oil therethrough. Shaft 11 is journalled through the rocker arms 14, rocker arm supports 16, and rocker arm to shaft locating spring 18. A rocker arm is disposed on each side of a rocker arm support. During the operation of the engine, 011 is plan view of the combined spring and 2,908,262 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 ICC pumped into thecentral bore 12, through one' of the rocker arm supports 16 and from there circulatesout through a plurality of spaced apart apertures 13 which connect the central bore 12 with the peripheral surface of the rocker arm shaft for thelubrication of the area between the shaft and the rocker arms and supports.

- Each one of the supoprts 16 is secured to the cylinder head (not shown) by blots 17.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, a plug 19 is press fitted and recessed into each end of the central bore 12 to seal the ends of the bore against oil leakage. After the shaft has been extended through the re-' spective rocker arms, supports and springs, the shaft is centered and secured with respect to these parts by the applicants novel spring and washer member indicated generally at 21.

Member 21 is made from a spring steel and is provided with a rocker arm shaft receiving aperture 22 and a pair of diametrically spaced apart transversely extending reverse bent edge sections 23. Sections 23 are connected to a pair of U-shaped sections 26 medially of the section 23 by angled leg portions 24. In the initial flat state both the outer configuration and the aperture 22 are elliptical in shape. After the formation of the angled leg portions 26, reverse bent edge sections 23, and U-shaped sections 26, the member 21 is generally circular in configuration as is shown in Figure 3.

In the unassembled free state the angle between the angled leg portions 24 is relatively acute. When it is assembled to the rocker shaft under load, the reverse bent edge sections are spread outwardly against the side faces 27 of the end rocker arms and the angularity between the angled leg portions 24 is increased. The load applied to the rocker arm side faces 27 is of a predetermined value and may vary with different engines and applications.

Rocker arm shaft 11 is provided with a drilled hole 28 perpendicular to the center bore at each end of rocket arm shaft and outwardly of the press fitted recessed plugs 19. A split pin 29 is driven through the holes 28 to extend outwardly of the shaft a suflicient distance to nest within the confines of U-shaped sections 26, and hold the member 21 in the load applied position against the rocker arm side faces 27.

It can be seen therefore that this simplified spring and washer construction is easy to manufacture, easy to install upon the ends of the rocker shaft, dependable in operation, and materially cuts down the assembly time of securing the rocker arm shaft in place in the internal combustion engine.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rocker arrn locating spring and washer member for use on a rocker arm shaft for applying a predetermined load against the side face of a rocker arm mounted upon the shaft, comprising a dished apertured resilient member adapted to receive a rocker arm shaft through the aperture, said member having edge sections adapted to engage the side face of an adjacent rocker arm, medially located sections adapted to engage an anchor member secured in one of the terminal ends of the rocker arm shaft and resilient angled leg portions connecting said medial sections with said edge sections.

2. A rocker arm locating spring and washer member for use on a rocker arm shaft for applying a predetermined pressure against the side face of a rocker arm mounted upon said shaft, comprising a dished member having a rocker arm shaft aperture adapted to receive a rocker arm shaft therethrough, said member having a pair of diametrically opposed reverse bent edge sections adapted to engage the side face of an adjacent rocker arm, medially located U-shaped sections adapted to engage anchor means in one of the terminal ends of the rocker arm shaft and resilient angled leg portions connecting said'medially located U-shaped sections with said diametrically opposed reverse bent edge sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Royce Sept. 23, 1924 Burkhardt Feb. 20, 1934 Nacker Aug. 21, 1934 Weman Nov. 5, 1935 Chayne Dec. 10, 1940 Smith Oct. 13, 1942 

